Women In Need Seeks Volunteers Here

Five individuals needed to offer training in county

By Chanin Rotz-Mountz

STAFF WRITER

Having logged more than 20 years in the human services field, Kay Martin has witnessed much tragedy and triumph.

Hired in January as Women In Need’s newest volunteer services manager, Martin’s newest and most pressing goal will hopefully bring a great deal of personal satisfaction as well as triumph to interested local residents.

According to WIN Fulton County services manager Eric Williams, volunteerism is remarkably down here in Fulton County. While numbers of volunteers traditionally only amount to a handful, that number has recently dropped to zero. As a result, Williams said the volunteer services manager has launched a training campaign of sorts to boast volunteerism within WIN.

According to Martin, even when looking at the average person’s hectic work schedule, no matter the time constraints or skill sets, WIN has a perfect job for everyone. From yardwork and bulk mailings to fundraising and answering the hotline, opportunities to serve the local community fall under a three-tiered system linked directly to the number available for training.

For example, after having spent only two hours in training with WIN staff, a volunteer can perform a variety of duties such as shredding and filing paperwork; painting; baking and cooking; carpentry; graphic design; and distributing flyers and posters. By logging between 10 and 16 hours of training, an individual also can add to the list of volunteer duties community outreach, fundraising, education/teaching and serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

Martin stated as a result of completing the maximum 65 hours of training, volunteers can also lend their services to answering the 24-hour hotline, offering medical and legal advocacy, working at the shelter in Chambersburg or supporting group facilitation.

In return for providing the free interactive training, which gives insight on domestic violence and sexual assault as well as ethics and boundaries, WIN requires a volunteer to commit six hours per month to the agency over a oneyear time frame.

Training in neighboring Franklin County is set to get under way in late September, and the training process can be brought to Fulton County as long as a minimum of five individuals sign up for the comprehensive program, Martin said. Training hours are very flexible and can be offered in the daytime, evenings or on weekends. Furthermore, an agreement has already been established with officials at Fulton County Medical Center to offer the training within its state-ofthe art facility.

“We’d like to offer the training in your backyard and make it more readily available to the people, stated Martin, who is also willing to meet in a group setting with churches, Red Hat and Women of Purpose groups.

Martin noted the application process begins with an initial interview and paperwork completion. “It’s a get-to-know-you session to see where the fit will be for both the person and our organization,” she said. “…We want you to benefit from the experience of being a WIN volunteer.”

For volunteers who may be willing to give or their time but may not have transportation or unable to leave their home as much, home-based activities are also available such as stuffing mailers or even creating flyers and brochures on the computer. Activities ranging from organizing school supplies and food drives; clerical help and answering phones at the Fulton County office in McConnellsburg; and helping at community events and fairs are also options for the willing volunteer to consider, Martin added.

“It could be something as simple as sitting with victims in court or just bringing your brains. We always need people who know the area and have connections,” she concluded.

Additional information on WIN’s volunteer opportunities can be obtained by contacting Kay Martin, volunteer services manager, at 717-264-3056 or by visiting WIN’s Web site at www.winservices.org.